U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has significantly increased its immigration enforcement activities under the Trump administration, with a total of 1,470 arrests made over three days, according to data released by ICE. The surge in enforcement began on January 23, 2025, with 538 arrests and 373 detainers lodged. The crackdown continued on January 24 with 593 arrests and 449 detainers, followed by 286 arrests and 421 detainers on January 25.
In the first three days of President Trump’s administration, ICE arrested more than 1,300 individuals, according to Tom Homan, White House Border Czar. It is unclear whether the 538 arrests on January 23 were included in this total.
Under President Joe Biden, ICE averaged approximately 282 arrests per day in September 2024, with an average of around 310 arrests per day for the entire year. This figure now appears low in comparison to the nearly 500 arrests per day currently being reported. This surge is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to strengthen immigration controls, in line with his campaign promises to prioritize apprehending individuals with criminal records.

The Trump administration has emphasized that its enforcement efforts target individuals with criminal convictions, including child sex offenders, gang members, and others involved in serious criminal activities. However, these operations have not been limited to those with criminal histories, raising concerns among immigrant advocacy groups. Critics argue that the sweeps are also impacting non-criminal individuals, including those who have lived in the U.S. for years without engaging in illegal activities.
The increase in arrests follows policy changes under the Trump administration, which have rolled back certain restrictions that were implemented during the Biden administration. These changes include the rescinding of guidelines that limited ICE operations in “sensitive” locations such as schools, hospitals, and churches, as well as the termination of certain humanitarian parole programs. These policy shifts have caused anxiety within immigrant communities, especially in major U.S. cities, where many fear being caught in the broader enforcement net.
Additionally, ICE officers nationwide are now authorized to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants under the Trump administration’s reinstated expedited removal policy, which took effect on January 21, 2025.
This policy allows for the expedited removal of undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for less than two years, regardless of where they are arrested. This represents a significant departure from the Biden-era restrictions, which limited expedited deportation to individuals apprehended within 100 miles of the border who had been in the U.S. for less than two weeks.
The reinstated policy mirrors a 2019 directive issued by the Trump administration, which was rescinded by the Biden administration in March 2022. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed that, effective immediately, non-citizens who cannot prove they have been in the U.S. for at least two years can be removed without a court hearing.